Postecoglou reshapes Al Nassr Lisbon camp as four youngsters return to Riyadh

Al Nassr head coach Ange Postecoglou has cut short the involvement of four youth-team players in the club’s pre-season camp in Lisbon, sending them back to Riyadh after the return of his full complement of senior internationals.

Saudi newspaper Al-Riyadiyah reported on Friday that the Australian manager instructed the club’s hierarchy to end the participation of the quartet from the youth ranks once their temporary role in Portugal had concluded.

According to the report, Postecoglou informed the administrative staff that Maheer Tuwashi, Fawwaz Mashhoor, Nawaf Al-Shammari and Faris Youssef should leave the overseas camp and rejoin Al Nassr in the Saudi capital.

Their presence with the first team in Lisbon had been arranged to cover for absences while a number of Al Nassr’s senior players were away on international duty and subsequently granted extended leave.

Decision made after internationals return

The move comes after Al Nassr’s international players reported back to the squad following additional rest periods granted in the wake of their involvement with their national teams in the 2026 World Cup.

With the squad now back to full strength, Postecoglou is understood to no longer require the services of the four youngsters in the overseas phase of pre-season preparations.

The decision does not indicate any change in their overall status at the club, but reflects that their specific assignment with the first team during the Lisbon stage of training has ended.

Lisbon camp and opening friendly defeat

Al Nassr arrived in Portugal on Monday to begin the second phase of their preparations for the new season, setting up camp in Lisbon.

On Wednesday, the team played their first warm-up match of the camp against Benfica’s reserve side. The game, arranged as a 60-minute encounter split into two halves, ended in a 2-1 defeat for Al Nassr.

Midfielder Abdulmalik Al-Jaber scored Al Nassr’s only goal in the fourth minute, giving his side an early lead before the Portuguese club’s B team came back to turn the match around.

Three more friendlies scheduled

As part of the Lisbon training programme, Al Nassr have three further pre-season friendlies lined up.

They are scheduled to face Spanish side Merida on 28 July, before meeting Portuguese club Estrela Amadora on 1 August.

Postecoglou’s team will then conclude their set of warm-up fixtures in Portugal by taking on Spanish outfit Almeria on 4 August, as they continue to build towards the start of the new campaign.